SAN BASILE It will be a great celebration for the community of San Basile which, on Saturday 4 May at 12, is preparing to experience a day of celebration of the figure of the Albanian hero Skanderbeg. In fact, the statue of Italy’s greatest leader will be inaugurated here. The Albanian President Bajram Begaj will unveil the monument, created in Albania in a unique work by the artist Ardian Pepa and approximately 6 meters high, together with Xhelal Svecla, Minister of the Interior of Kosovo, Elbert Krasniqi, Minister of the Local Government Administration of Kosovo , Lendita Haxhitasim, Ambassador of Kosovo to Italy, Anila Bitri Lani, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, Vehbi Miftari, Head of Mission of Kosovo to the Holy See, Vullnet Sinaj, Deputy of the Assembly of Albania, Loris Castriota Skanderbegh, heir of Skanderbeg, Gianluca Gallo, regional councilor with responsibility for linguistic minorities, the vicar of the Eparchy of Lungro, Papas Pietro Lanza, and many other Arbëreshë authorities and mayors from all over Italy.
«We are preparing to experience a day of great celebration of the Arbëria – states the mayor Vincenzo Tamburi – together with a slew of authorities coming from both Albania and Kosovo. I am grateful, on behalf of the entire community, to President Begaj for his presence and his willingness to make this day unique. I also thank the ministers and the ambassador of Kosovo for their presence and participation. We are proud to have this precious work which has a specific passport from the Albanian Ministry of Culture.” The program will continue in the afternoon with a conference on the figure of Skanderbeg and the Arbëreshe diaspora at 4pm at the municipal auditorium, at 6.30pm there will be a parade of groups from all over Italy in historical Arbëresh costume through the streets of the town and at 8.30pm singing performance by the same groups. On the occasion of the inauguration of the monument there will be the photographic exhibition “Eternal Gaze” curated by Elton Koritari.
